The Latest Dish

Restaurants at DCA and IAD: MarketPlace Development has been contracted by Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to take the restaurant offerings at Reagan National and Dulles International Airports to the next level. MarketPlace Development has done the same at airports in Seattle, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Chicago’s two airports. A majority of existing contracts at Reagan National and Dulles are up for renewal or change in the next few months. The Ali family’s Ben’s Chili Bowl, Thompson Hospitality’s American Tap Room, Legal Sea Foods and Pinkberry are expected to open. Several new tenants also signed for Dulles, including Bistro Atelier, a locally-owned French restaurant, Luv’n’Berry, a frozen yogurt place and Au Bon Pain. MarketPlace will hold another open forum for potential tenants at the Residence Inn Arlington Capital View Hotel on Oct. 1.

Cyrille Bernac and his partners in Bistrot Lepic in Glover Park have purchased the lease for Bistro Le Zinc in Cleveland park and plan to open La Piquette, a casual, contemporary bistro. An October opening is planned. The name is tongue in cheek, as “ la piquette” means a bad wine in French -- which they will not be serving. The restaurant has 60 seats inside and 20 outside on the patio. La Piquette will have a small menu featuring seasonal, sustainable food. The deal was made on Friday the 13th – which in this case, is a good omen.

Chef Update: Café Dupont’s executive sous chef, David Fritsche, has been promoted to executive chef. A native of Switzerland, Fritsche will continue to serve modern brasserie cuisine at the Dupont Circle Hotel restaurant. Westin Reston’s Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro has added assistant restaurant manager and sommelier, Nicole Bernard, to their team. A Certified Level II Sommelier, Bernard previously worked at Range, Willow Restaurant and Trummer’s on Main. Eric McKamey has been named chef de cuisine at Masa 14 in the Logan Circle neighborhood. Masa 14 is owned by Richard Sandoval and his partners Kaz Okochi and Ivan Iricanin. The new chef plans to execute dishes with his modern take on Latin American and Asian foods.

Quick Hits: Owners of Thunder Burger on M Street in Georgetown, opened an Italian restaurant, Rialto, where the Guards was on M Street. Ryan Fichter is chef for both. Andy Seligman and operating partner Mike Chisti plan to open Terrapin Pizza Mart in College Park, Md., serving jumbo sliced pizza by the end of November. The first Pizza Mart, serving jumbo sliced pizza, has opened in Adams Morgan.

Mike Anderson, founder of Mango Mike’s in Alexandria’s West End and co-owner of Pork Barrel BBQ, will open Sweet Fire Donna’s barbecue restaurant on John Carlyle Street where Jerry’s Subs and Pizza used to be. The restaurant is named after Mike’s wife, Donna. It will offer a menu of slow-cooked meats and Southern-style sides, just like Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray. A late fall opening is planned. Mike also owns Sushi Del Ray and Holy Cow. A new Mexican restaurant from the owners of 1905 Bistro & Bar and Sticky Rice DC will open on Rhode Island Ave., NW in the Bloomingdale neighborhood next summer. Owners Tony Luca and Phil Rodriguez (he lives in the ’hood) plan to offer a traditional Mexican menu with Latin cocktails.

Ocean City-Md.-born (and now Newark, Del.-based) Fractured Prune plans to expand into the D.C. metro area – as well as across the country. Dan Brinton is the new owner. He plans to open in Georgetown, Arlington, Rockville as well as Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. There are currently 11 Fractured Prune stores, including Ocean City, Md., Rehoboth Beach, Del., Salisbury, Md., Frederick, Md., Parkville, Md., Ocean City, NJ and Lancaster, Pa.

Linda Roth is president of Linda Roth Associates, a public relations & marketing firm. Reach her at: Linda@LindaRothPR.com or 703-417-2700.